Nemesis(6)

I roll my eyes and pick up a spring roll, taking a bite out of it. “Not going to let him ruin my night.”

It’s been about a year since we were together, but for some reason he couldn’t seem to let it go, even though he was the one who cheated with some older nurse. He still blew up my phone on occasion, even though I ignored any of his attempts at contact.

“How was work?” I ask, changing the subject away from all that is Dan. Sadie works at the library, a job I envy.

“Good,” she says, brown eyes lighting up. “I did a few of the reading classes with the kids today. The toddler classes are the cutest.”

“What do you do, just read to them?”

I can’t imagine them paying any real attention.

“We have these huge books that I read to them, and we also do little games, songs and puzzles. They have a ball.”

“Your job is way more fun than mine,” I say, and not for the first time.

“Oh, God,” Sadie suddenly whispers, dragging my eyes from my spring roll to her.

“What?”

“He’s coming over here.”

“Bullshit.”

“I swear,” she says, eyes darting around to anywhere except behind me. “Three, two, one…”

“Jacinta,” I hear from over my shoulder. I grit my teeth and turn my head toward him.

“Hey, Dan,” I say, smiling awkwardly. “What are the chances, huh?”

He shoves his hands in his pockets and smiles at Sadie. “It’s a small world, isn’t it? Sadie, nice to see you again.”

Lies.

He and Sadie never got along, and probably never will.

“Uh-huh,” Sadie murmurs, lips thinning.

“I better get back to my date,” he says as his brown eyes roam over my face. “Nice to see you, Jacinta.”

“You too,” I say, waving then turning to face Sadie.

She stares at me with wide eyes while pushing her blonde hair behind her ear. “Awkward.”

“Just a little,” I groan, covering my face with my hands. “I know we weren’t going to drink tonight, but I think we should order a bottle of wine.”

“You think?” she asks, looking ill at just the thought. “I feel like I’m still hung over from last night.”

“Desperate times call for desperate wine measures.”

“You drink, I’ll drive,” she suggests, arching her brow. “And don’t worry, I won’t judge you for drinking alone.”

I roll my eyes at her. “Thanks, Sadie. That’s what friends are for, right?”

“Eww, he’s kissing her,” she says, shuddering. “I don’t know how you slept with him. I mean, yeah, he’s good-looking, but he has this creepy vibe to him.”

“That’s not what you said the first night I brought him home,” I remind her, smirking. “I believe you asked him if he had a brother.”

She waves her hand in the air. “That was before. This is now. And now, I happen to think he’s a serial killer in the making.”

I can’t stop laughing after she says that.

“Stop laughing,” Sadie whisper-yells. “He’s looking over here, and so is his future victim!”

We finish our food, and I get through the evening without the wine.

Sometimes, miracles can happen.

*****

“Are you just going to order the exact same thing every day? Try something new, Jacinta. Live a little, why don’t you,” Cohen says the next day, looking down at my hamburger in disgust.

“Oh, I live plenty,” I reply, narrowing my eyes and popping a fry in my mouth. “I skipped my usual toast for breakfast and had some pancakes. If that isn’t living on the wild side, I don’t know what is.”

Cohen shakes his head at me, eyes alight with humour. “I don’t know how you don’t put on weight.”

“Oh, I do,” I correct him. “It just goes straight to my ass and thighs.”

I pause, cringing as I realise what I’ve just said. To my boss. I look at his face, see the amusement there, but still feel extremely awkward.

“Anyway…” I start, attempting to change the subject. “Tomorrow is my day off, so you’re going to have to find someone else to have lunch with.”

“Why do you get a weekday off?” he asks, pushing his finished plate aside. “I want an extra day off.”

I roll my eyes at him. “You have criminals to put away. Fortunately, for me, anyone can cover the front desk for one day.”

“Like I’ve said before, if you weren’t there running shit, we’d all walk around in circles, just bumping into each other,” he says, making me laugh as I picture it.

“I asked for the day off because it’s my best friend’s birthday, and we usually make a big deal of it. I was going to throw her a surprise party, but she said she didn’t want anything big, so we’re just going to have a day at the spa, getting pretty.”

“If you get any prettier, I think we’re going to have a problem,” he remarks then looks away, clearing his throat.

Wow.

I’m still dazed from that comment when he asks, “Who is covering for you?”

“Some temp named Emily,” I say, and his eyes go wide before his gaze drops to the table.